John Wilbert and Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Jan 09: In 1987 two physically challenged people, Mr S Singaram and K Laxmanan, were given two Portable shops and were asked to operate these portable shops from STS Bus Terminus area of Mohanpura. These shops were donated by the then Minister of Textiles, Dr. Thirunavukkarasar as per the order of the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Late M G Ramachandran, through Tamil Nadu Youth Association.
But now after 30 years the present Port Blair Municipal Council is allegedly trying to remove these shops, claiming that these shops are being run from encroached land.
In a country where physically challenged people were named as Diviyang by the Prime Minister of the Country himself, such heartless act of PBMC has invited criticism from all corners of this society.
As per reports, in a recent drive by the PBMC, many of the shops, running their businesses from the roadside and on encroached lands, were evicted.
Similarly, the authorities of PBMC also imposed fine of Rs 2000/- to the owners of these two portable shops and also evicted these two shops, even without considering that the owners of the shop are physically challenged and their case has been sympathetically considered long back and were allowed to run shop for 30 long years.
However, following the harassment of the PBMC when the owners approached to the authorities with valid documents, they were directed to run their businesses in the afternoon hours and were also directed to remove their portable shops by evening hours.
“We are physically challenged people, it would be very difficult for us to move our portable shop on daily basis. Neither we have good source of income to appoint someone to help nor do we have ability to move our shop. It is a total injustice to us. We are running this business since last 30 years, why suddenly we can’t do business in the evening hours in a place that was provided to us long back?” questioned one of the shop owners.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr Sanjay Meshack, the Convenor, Aam Aadmi Party said that this is nothing but absolute torture to hard working Divyang people. “These two portable shops are not creating any hurdle to traffic or obstructing the movement of the General Public, if the PBMC is adamant to remove them from here then they must provide these two Divyang shop owners with a job,” Mr Meshack demanded.
Meanwhile Andaman Sheekha tried to contact the Chairperson of PBMC over phone for a comment on this issue but the Chairperson neither picked up the phone nor called back.
